The Syracuse Orange almost won a big game this past weekend. The North Carolina State Wolfpack did actually win a big game this past weekend. Which team will be able to continue to improve in its next game? Both teams are beginning to do encouraging things, but they both need to sustain forward momentum if their seasons are going to live up to their potential. The Wolfpack are favored in this spot but they could be due for a letdown after such a big win.
Details
Odds: Wolfpack -13.5
Date & Time: Saturday, September 30, 12:20 PM ET
Location: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
Broadcast: ACC Network
Reasons To Bet On The Syracuse Orange
The Orange showed a level of backbone that many people felt they didn’t have. They fell behind LSU by an 18-point margin twice, 21-3 and 28-10, but did not give up. They scored 16 straight points to pull within two points at 28-26, giving LSU a big challenge before finally losing, 35-26. The Orange passing game wasn’t always consistent, but it did threaten LSU’s defense with its combination of two basic attributes under head coach Dino Babers: Using a fast tempo, and spreading the field with receivers. Syracuse had struggled in the first three games, but this was a noticeably better performance against a stronger opponent, the kind of event Babers was looking for in his second season as Syracuse’s head coach. Babers is known for creating notable improvements in his second seasons at coaching stops. He has made a big leap from year one to year two at two previous coaching jobs. Syracuse could be maturing and rounding into form, which is exactly what Orange fans were hoping for from this team.
The other reason to give Syracuse a good chance of staying close, if not winning, is that North Carolina State has a big Thursday game the week after this one. The Wolfpack could easily get caught looking ahead to Louisville. Syracuse could take advantage of the opportunity.
Reasons To Bet On The North Carolina State Wolfpack
The Wolfpack’s biggest asset in this game will be their confidence. They will feel very good about themselves after beating Florida State on the road. North Carolina State needed a high-level win against a strong opponent, and Florida State fits that bill. The Wolfpack generally overpowered the Seminoles at the line of scrimmage and were stronger in the red zone at both ends of the field. With defensive pass rush specialist Bradley Chubb disrupting Florida State’s offense, and with running back Jaylen Samuels running wild against the Florida State defense, North Carolina State had the balance and toughness it needed to win one of the more important road games it has played in several years. Both the offense and the defense know how good they can be. Quarterback Ryan Finley avoided making the big mistake on the road. He is becoming the leader this offense needs. All the pieces seem to be coming together for North Carolina State at the right time. This team has fixed the problems which existed at the beginning of the season.
Outlook
The Wolfpack opened as low as -11 but the steady pressure on the line has pushed the number up. There’s no question that they’re the better of the two teams here. The question is whether or not they’ll maintain focus and show up with the same type of intensity and focus they played with last week. Remember, this is a team that made a lot of mistakes against South Carolina in their opener and looked pretty sluggish in their first half against Marshall. If that team shows up again. Syracuse could cover.
The possibility that North Carolina State will look ahead to the following game is real, but Syracuse’s close game at LSU was in large part a product of LSU being bad. It’s not easy to be convinced that Syracuse is ready to push North Carolina State for four quarters. The Wolfpack will pull away late.
Prediction: Wolfpack -13.5
Click here to bet on the college football season right now. DSI has a full list of spreads, totals and props for every single game on the board. Get all of the latest lines that you need to get a piece of the action!
